Lesson Plan
Reading Comprehension Adventures Lesson Plan
Students will be able to identify key details and the main idea in a short story.
Understanding how to find important information in a story helps students become strong readers and thinkers, which is a skill they will use every day!
Audience
1st Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive story reading, discussion, and a fun worksheet.
Materials
Reading Comprehension Adventures Slide Deck, Story Detective Worksheet, and Story Summary Activity
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Reading Comprehension Adventures Slide Deck for presentation.
- Print copies of the Story Detective Worksheet for each student.
- Gather pencils or crayons for student use.
- Familiarize yourself with the Story Summary Activity instructions.
Step 1
Introduction: Hook 'Em with a Book!
5 minutes
- Begin by asking students: "What makes a story exciting? How do we remember the most important parts?"
- Introduce the day's adventure: becoming 'Story Detectives' to find clues (key details) and solve the mystery (main idea) of a story.
- Use the first few slides of the Reading Comprehension Adventures Slide Deck to set the stage.
Step 2
Interactive Read-Aloud: The Case of the Missing Cookies
10 minutes
- Read a short, age-appropriate story aloud to the class (e.g., The Case of the Missing Cookies - teacher's choice, not provided here).
- Pause at key moments to ask questions: "Who is in the story? Where are they? What is happening?"
- Guide students to identify characters, setting, and main events. Use relevant slides from the Reading Comprehension Adventures Slide Deck.
Step 3
Worksheet Activity: Story Detective Time!
10 minutes
- Distribute the Story Detective Worksheet.
- Explain that students will draw or write the most important parts of the story, focusing on the main idea and key details.
- Circulate to provide support and encourage students to share their 'clues' as they work.
Step 4
Wrap-Up: Solve the Mystery!
5 minutes
- Bring the class back together.
- Have a few students share their completed worksheets or discuss their 'detective findings.'
- Briefly review the main idea and key details using the final slide of the Reading Comprehension Adventures Slide Deck.
- Introduce the Story Summary Activity as a fun extension for later or a take-home task.
use Lenny to create lessons.
No credit card needed
Slide Deck
Welcome, Story Detectives!
Are you ready to solve some story mysteries today?
We will find clues and discover the main idea!
Welcome students and get them excited about becoming story detectives! Ask them about their favorite stories and what makes them good.
Our Super Story Skills
Today, we'll learn to find:
- Who is in the story (characters)
- Where the story happens (setting)
- What happens (key events)
- The BIGGEST IDEA (main idea)!
Introduce the idea of finding key details. Explain that these are the 'clues' in our story mystery.
Who's in the Story?
These are the characters!
They are the people or animals the story is about.
Can you name some characters from your favorite books?
Explain characters. Use simple terms and ask for examples from familiar stories if time allows.
Where Does It Happen?
This is the setting!
It's where and when the story takes place.
Is it in a forest? At school? During the day or night?
Explain setting. Ask students to think about where their favorite stories take place.
What Happened?
These are the key events!
These are the most important things that happen in the story.
Think of them as the 'big moments'!
Explain key events. Emphasize that these are the important things that happen, not every little detail.
The BIGGEST Idea: Main Idea!
The Main Idea is what the story is mostly about.
It's like the story's big secret that we need to uncover!
All the clues (details) help us find it!
Transition to the main idea. Explain that it's like the 'big picture' or what the story is mostly about.
Time to Be a Detective!
Now it's your turn!
Use your detective skills to find the characters, setting, and key events in our story.
Then, figure out the Main Idea!
Review the concepts and prepare students for the worksheet activity. Encourage them to be observant.
Great Job, Detectives!
You found the clues!
YouYou discovered the Main Idea!
Keep practicing your story detective skills every time you read!
Conclude the lesson by reinforcing the learned skills. Encourage them to use these skills in all their reading.
Worksheet
Story Detective Worksheet
Name: _________________________ Date: _________________________
My Story Mystery:
Write the title of the story you read today:
____________________________________________________________________
Clue #1: Who is in the story? (Characters)
Draw or write about the main characters.
Clue #2: Where did the story happen? (Setting)
Draw or write about where and when the story took place.
Clue #3: What happened? (Key Events)
Draw or write 2-3 important things that happened in the story.
The BIG Secret: What is the Main Idea?
What was the story mostly about? Write one sentence.
____________________________________________________________________
Activity
Story Summary Star!
Name: _________________________ Date: _________________________
Be a Story Summary Star!
Choose one story you loved reading recently. It can be the one we read in class or another favorite!
Story Title: ____________________________________________________
Author: ____________________________________________________
1. Who was in your story? (Characters)
Draw a picture of the main characters or write their names.
2. Where did your story happen? (Setting)
Draw a picture of the place(s) where the story happened or describe it.
3. What was the most important thing that happened?
Draw or write about the biggest event or problem in the story.
4. What was the story mostly about? (Main Idea)
Write one sentence to tell your teacher the main idea of your story.
____________________________________________________________________
5. What did you learn or how did the story make you feel?
Draw a picture or write about your feelings or what you learned.
Cool Down
Story Recall Cool Down: Thumbs Up or Down?
Name: _________________________
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. The characters in a story are:
a) The places where the story happens
b) The people or animals in the story
c) The big idea of the story
2. The setting tells us:
a) What the story is mostly about
b) Who the story is about
c) Where and when the story happens
3. The main idea is:
a) Every single detail that happens
b) What the story is mostly about
c) The ending of the story
4. What is one new thing you learned about being a Story Detective today?
____________________________________________________________________
5. How confident do you feel about finding the main idea in a story?
Color the star that shows how you feel! (1 star = not confident, 5 stars = super confident)
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐